I fed my 10-month-old Yorkie two turkey sausages. I was naive and assumed any type of meat was fine for dogs. I had no notion onion powder was hazardous to dogs. He just ate two little turkey sausages from the mixed plate of vegetables. He weighs about 8 pounds and has no symptoms. I was simply wondering whether I should be worried. Thank you for your help.
This is the turkey sausage I gave him; as you can see, it’s not much larger than a cent.
You must do what you believe is best, and if you are extremely concerned, call your veterinarian, or simply take him to the clinic.
But if this was my dog, I don’t believe I’d be too concerned. He may experience stomach distress or diarrhea tonight or tomorrow. However, in my non-medical view, a small amount of onion powder is unlikely to cause him serious harm this time.
And you certainly learned a valuable lesson. It is never a good idea to feed human food to a dog, especially a tiny dog. Continue to use high-quality dog food and treats in the future.
Thank you for your honest response! You’re correct; I won’t feed him non-dog food again. Still keeping an eye out for any symptoms, but he appears to be doing well. It’s my first dog, therefore learning everything is new to me. Thank you for taking the time to give me this advice!!
Onions are toxic to dogs, although the amount found in a small sausage is unlikely to cause harm.
However, sausage contains salt, so pairing it with the onion is not something I would advocate.
You can continue to feed your dog “human food” as long as it is specifically formulated for them. I almost always give my dog boiling turkey breasts. Unseasoned, no skin, thoroughly cooked. He really adores it. I also give him boiling vegetables, boiled carrots, hardboiled eggs (no more than one each week), and boiled beef. Everything is unseasoned; there is no salt or anything. It is completely safe and healthy for them, and all of those options make excellent kibble toppers. But avoid processed meats intended for human consumption, such as salami and sausages.
I totally agree with this! Using fresh “human food” to complement a kibble diet or as a treat is perfectly fine. It’s merely crucial to understand the variations between what a dog can/should eat and what is appropriate for humans.
All true. And I agree. I suppose I should have been more explicit when I stated “human food,” because I really meant “prepared or packaged food”. I guess I don’t consider fresh veggies or fresh or boiling meat without seasonings to be “human food” because they are just food, not special to humans, and are fed to animals all over the world.
Regarding the onion powder, it’s always best to call your vet to be sure, but my guess is that he didn’t get enough to cause serious harm. However, definitely check with your vet to confirm.
As for human foods, fresh foods can be great for dogs, but they have different nutritional requirements than we do. Their diets need to include things like organ meat and the right mix of fruits and vegetables. We feed our dog all fresh food, but we get it from a kitchen that specializes in using USDA human-certified foods and preparing it to meet a dog’s nutritional needs. I also add a small amount of kibble so she has something to crunch on.
I notice you are in the United States. The ASPCA operates a poison control hotline. My veterinarian referred me to it after one of my dogs ate a possibly poisonous herb. There is a cost, but you speak with a poison control veterinarian who will advise you on what to do and what not to do. In my case, the charge was waived because the dog’s microchip was registered with Home Again. I keep the number on speed dial: 888-426-4435.
